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Thursday, November 14, 2013

Dangerous Intersection

A reader emailed me this afternoon about this strip of road where Austin St. meets cars coming up from the tunnel from Union Turnpike. Does anyone else find it to be exceptionally dangerous? She was thinking it could use a Yield sign or something like that because cars coming up from the tunnel, and vice-a-versa, may not notice each other until it's too late. Not being a driver, I can only imagine this to be the case. Does anyone else have a problem there?

14 comments:

I live right there on Austin Street. Its actually pretty wide giving cars plenty of time to see each other and merge safely. That photo doesnt do it justice. But adding a yield sign probably wouldn't hurt.

I run to Forest Hills Park and pass this intersection a few times a week at different hours. It has always been an area where there is not a lot of traffic so I don't see it being a problem, but it couldn't hurt to get a yield sign. I think there is a school very close by so it would make sense to be more cautious and add a sign.

On a different note, I really like your blog! I have lived in Forest Hills on and off for 6 years now and am happy to see its progress! And very happy to hear what is going on around town, great job!

I run to Forest Hills Park and pass this intersection a few times a week at different hours. It has always been an area where there is not a lot of traffic so I don't see it being a problem, but it couldn't hurt to get a yield sign. I think there is a school very close by so it would make sense to be more cautious and add a sign.

On a different note, I really like your blog! I have lived in Forest Hills on and off for 6 years now and am happy to see its progress! And very happy to hear what is going on around town, great job!

I live a few blocks from there and agree with the point everyone else has made so far. In theory, it needs a yield sign, but in practice the traffic there is minimal and mostly comprised of people who know the area. Wouldn't hurt to place a sign, but I haven't heard of accidents happening.

The end of that block also has a No U-Turn sign because of the traffic coming out of the tunnel, yet I don't believe anyone actually obeys it.

I haven't seen an accident either, however there are many times when family visits me and when they make that right from Union they have to stop short because the cars from the underpass don't stop. A lot of people have mentioned it to me. Just a thought.

I live right at that intersection and YES it is a problem for both drivers and pedestrians. The biggest problem I've noticed over the years is that the cars coming out of the tunnel speed and seem to have little regard for the other lane they are merging with or the people crossing at the corner of 77th Ave & Austin Street. Secondly, many people pull illegal u-turns right before the tunnel which also contribute to the intersection being dangerous. While there might not be many accidents it is definitely not the safest intersection. A yield sign would be a welcomed improvement.

The part of this intersection that I always found dangerous is the right hand turn off of Union Trpk onto Austin Street. The turn cuts across what I believe is 78th Road; I questioned a friend making the turn once as I was uncertain if it was legal. I was told that it was ok, there is no signage restricting the turn and it was tolerated as a way to keep traffic out of the Gardens.

Also, there is a school at the corner, Kew Forest; and I do not recall seeing any "school crossing" type signage.